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Year 5

Writing notes to support delivering a speech in a debate

I can follow a structure to write notes that will help me deliver a speech in a debate.

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New
New
Year 5

Writing notes to support delivering a speech in a debate

I can follow a structure to write notes that will help me deliver a speech in a debate.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When making a speech in a debate, a person should have written notes to help them.
  2. Notes do not need to be written in full sentences.
  3. Notes should not be read word for word.

Common misconception

Pupils often want to write their speech down word for word.

There often isn't time to write a speech word for word when preparing for a debate. Therefore, notes should be used instead.

Keywords

  • Point - A point is an idea or reason to support your opinion.

  • Explanation - An explanation means giving reasons to help someone understand an opinion.

  • Proof - Proof refers to the evidence used to support an opinion.

  • Summary - A summary will briefly recap the main points of an argument.

  • Notes - Notes are brief, concise and often abbreviated records of information.

Pupils should build up the length of their speeches gradually. Starting with short speeches, formed from minimal notes, would be the best way.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the first thing a team should do when following the debate preparation guide GOAL?
guess which points to use
gather a group of people to help
Correct answer: generate a list of points
Q2.
What comes after 'generate' when following GOAL?
Correct answer: order
organise
observe
Q3.
Who does a team assign points to when preparing for a debate?
members of the audience
the opposing team
their summary speaker
Correct answer: their speakers
Q4.
What must a team do to avoid repeating parts of each other's arguments?
listen to each other
Correct answer: liaise with each other
learn from each other
Q5.
What makes an effective 'point' in a debate?
one that seems obvious
one that isn't true
Correct answer: one that provokes an emotional response
Q6.
Should points be fully formed and written in full sentences whilst the team is generating them?
yes
Correct answer: no
it depends if the audience is watching

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What of these elements of a debate that make it unpredictable?
Correct answer: rebuttal
Correct answer: points of information
summary speakers
protected time
Q2.
Speakers should not be reading their speech word for word. Instead, what should they use to support them?
photographs
drawings
Correct answer: notes
Q3.
A speaker should try and finish writing their notes with time to spare before the debate starts so they can do what?
read them out loud
Correct answer: rehearse what they'll say using the notes to help
relax before the debate starts
Q4.
Which of these may feature in a speaker's notes?
Correct answer: abbreviations
full sentences
photographs
Q5.
Having clear notes means a speaker doesn't have to keep looking at them. What should they do with their eyes instead?
make eye-contact with the opposing team
look at the floor
Correct answer: make eye-contact with the audience
Q6.
Which of these would be a helpful thing to use to make notes clearer to read?
Correct answer: brackets and dashes
arrows
giant writing